Greek illustrator Meni Chatzipanagiotou has been producing an ongoing series of wood cut illustrations painted with acrylic, gouache, and pens. Her vignettes of animals and starry mountainscapes are inspired by her various interests in science, fantasy, fiction and surrealism. You can explore more work on her website, and some of the wood pieces are available in her shop. (via Culture N Lifestyle)
Sculptor Xavier Puente Vilardell (previously) carves blocks of pine wood into twisted screws and ribbons, redefining the solid material into one that appears both light and pliable. Some of the final works are varnished with a deep, glossy coat, while others are left to look more natural. Despite this differentiation in finish, all of Vilardell’s works showcase the natural grain of the original blocks of wood, at once expressing their similarity and originality. You can see more of Vilardell’s recent sculptures on both his Behance and website.
“Tail Chair” (2005), wood chair and lacquered wood, 100x150x200 cm, images courtesy of Tatiana Blass
In an installation titled Tails from 2006, Tatiana Blass (previously), presented several wooden chairs and other sculptural objects that seem to melt into the ground. The works merge with the floor through additions of specifically cut lacquered wood or fiber glass, solid forms that give the illusion of both brightly colored and woodgrain patterned liquid. The Brazilian artist is represented by Galeria Millan in Sao Paulo. You can see more of her past and present works on her website.
“Tail Chair” (2005), wood chair and lacquered wood, 100x150x200 cm
“Sofia” (2006), wood and lacquered painting, 200x180x150 cm
“Golden Cashew” (2006), wood chair and lacquered wood, 100x150x200 cm
“Tail #2” (2005), acrylic ball, lacquered wood, and fiber glass, 40x180x150 cm
Installation view, “Tails,” (2006)
New Zealand-based artist Louise McRae works with pieces of discarded wood that are hand-split into small fragments and then carefully reassembled into intricate wall sculptures. The pieces often resemble aerial views of sprawling cities or macro views organic growths, accentuated with acrylic paints, foil, or even charring the piece with fire outright. You can see more of McRae’s abstract cubist wall pieces at Seed Gallery and Gallery 33. (via Tu Recepcja)
Japanese sculptor Yoshitoshi Kanemaki (previously) produces figurative sculptures with varying abnormalities and glitches, doubling the eyes on some works, while multiplying the heads on others to convey an impressive array of human emotion. Each piece, with sizes ranging from life-size to miniature, is first sketched directly onto a large section of camphor wood and then chiseled to match the absurd female form. You can see more sculptures from Kanemaki on his Behance and Facebook.
(AP Photo/Petr David Josek) All images licensed for use on Colossal.
An enormous object resembling a zeppelin has just been built atop the Dox Center for Contemporary Art in Prague. The 138-foot structure (42-meter) won’t be taking to the sky anytime soon, but will instead be utilized as a public gathering space for readings, performances, and debates about literature. The wooden airship-like building is situated atop a cascade of steps on the Dox center’s roof and should accommodate up to 120 seated visitors.
The alternative meeting space was designed as part of a collaboration between the center’s founder and director, Leos Valka, and architect Martin Rajnis who won the 2014 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. “Our aim for the world of contemporary art is to spread and get partially interconnected with the world of literature,” Valka shared with the AP at a preview event this week. “It’s a world of pure imagination, a children’s world.” Rajnis recently gave a Creative Mornings talk in Prague titled Embrace the Weird.
The airship has officially been named Gulliver, after the fictional protagonist and narrator of Jonathan Swift’s famous Gulliver’s Travels. You can see more process photos on Pinterest, Google Photos, and on Facebook.
(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photo courtesy HAMR Huť architektury Martin Rajniš.
Photo courtesy HAMR Huť architektury Martin Rajniš.
Photo courtesy HAMR Huť architektury Martin Rajniš.
Photo courtesy HAMR Huť architektury Martin Rajniš.
Photo by Matej Slávik / HN
